Check out cricket's new rules which come into effect today

Last updated on: October 09, 2013 16:30 IST

The new playing conditions for all three formats of international cricket -- including the contentious Decision Review System and stricter penalties for ball-tampering -- came into effect with the series between Bangladesh and New Zealand, which started in Chittagong on Wednesday.

Bangladesh and New Zealand play two Tests, three ODIs and a one-off Twenty20 in a series that will conclude on November 6.

One of the most important amendments to the playing conditions pertains to changing the condition of the ball, which will be applicable in all three formats of the game.

"Clause 42.1 which deals with The Match Ball – changing its condition, has been amended to provide clarity in situations where the condition of the match ball has been changed, and the umpires cannot identify the person responsible for changing the condition of the ball," read a statement from the ICC.

"If a team has changed the condition of the ball and no player has been witnessed changing the condition of the ball, the ball will be changed, and the captain issued a first and final warning."

Such a warning will apply for the remainder of a Test match or for the remainder of an ODI or T20I series.

If there is a further incident of the condition of the ball being changed, a five-run penalty will be awarded, the ball changed again and the captain will be held responsible and reported.

"If the condition of the ball has been changed and the player responsible can be identified then the ball will be changed, a five-run penalty will be awarded, and the player responsible will be reported."

Apart from this, the Decision Review System is being used on a six-month trial.

"Each team has a maximum of two unsuccessful player review requests in the first 80 overs of the innings, and a maximum of two unsuccessful player review requests after 80 overs for the remainder of the innings."

This will mean that at the end of the 80th over, a team with two remaining reviews will receive no additional reviews, a team with one remaining review will receive one additional review, and a team with no remaining reviews will receive two additional reviews.

Besides, in the ODIs, clause 5.1.3 has been added to Law 5 that deals with the ball.

"The new clause reads: 5.1.3: 'In a match reduced to 25 overs or less per side before the first innings commences, each team shall have only one new ball for its innings'."